It’s a personal question. It’s a question many are afraid to ask trainee and graduate pilots. The answers differ vastly depending on your background, personal circumstances and many other factors. Here’s a brief overview of how I’m funding my training and a look into my current situation.
Since leaving School I have been employed by a private hospital in the Medical Records Department. In honesty it wasn’t a job I initially enjoyed. In recent years, with increased responsibility and knowledge of the Hospital and it’s staff I have began to enjoy it more and I’m beyond thankful to the staff and management for their support, particularly my current boss whom understands my ambition and aims to help me realise it. I’ve saved relentlessly, particularly in the past year or so. It’s exceptionally difficult and at times I despair regarding money and trying to save whilst paying bills and such. However, I always tell myself it’s a sacrifice now for your dream career and comfort in the future.
After graduating from University, many were able to start solidifying pathways and routes to the cockpit. Others not so. In a delayed fashion, I realised I would have to work in order to save some money and build a credit score. With the money I’ve been working ever so hard to save I’ll be able to fund some of my remaining flight training whilst I intend (And hope) to attain a personal loan to fund the rest of the training.
I have been very fortunate in the sense that I was offered the opportunity to teach a University module based upon the ATPL syllabus of which I have just been through. This module is too a module I have experienced as it’s part of the University of Leeds Aviation Technology with Pilot Studies BSc. It was an opportunity I jumped at and have been very keen to deliver as best as I possibly can, helping the students develop the skills and confidence necessary to later crack on with the ATPL’s. As a result, I’m currently lecturing Mondays and Fridays whilst working at the Hospital Tuesday Wednesday and Saturday. It’s tough and it’s tiring but it’s also nice to have a balance of two very different jobs.
The experience of teaching the ATPL syllabus has definitely not been without its challenges. I’ll talk more about that in a later blog. Despite this, I’m very glad to have been given the opportunity, I intend to use the skills learnt in secondary pilot roles such as TKI’s and SFI’s in the future.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done” – Nelson Mandela
We’ll get there. Make it work for you and take advantage of any opportunities that come your way…
Until next time.
MozzThePilot 